Espresso Machine Essential Purchasing Advice

Over the years we have been asked so many questions about the type of espresso machine that suits the job its being asked to do! The espresso machine is one of the most important items you buy and getting it right is crucial to the operation.

If we could offer any advice at all it would be don’t buy cheap! Look at everything you want to do now and in the future from your espresso machine and get a machine that will suit your business and your pocket. If you buy cheap we can probably guarantee you will buying trouble and as the old adage says – buy cheap, buy twice!

Listed below are some key points that we hope will help you come to a decision about the type of machine that will help you produce the finest espresso possible.

Automatic – Semi automatic?

The most popular machine is the Automatic. This allows you to serve a pre-set measure of espresso at a push of a button on the control panel on the front of the machine. This is good for busy operations that may have more that 1 member of staff operating the machine.

The semi-automatic you push the button to start the espresso being made and then push the button again to stop the espresso at the correct level. This machine is ideal for really confident operators and for those that have a small amount of people operating the machine.

Groups

The machines are usually referred to by ‘Groups’ This refers to the part that actually dispenses the espresso into the cup. If you have a 2-group machine you can make up to 4 drinks at one time and can be operated by two people. A 3-group machine will allow you to dispense 6 drinks and can have 3 people operating the machine at any time. You can purchase 4 group machines but we would recommend that if you have the volume to support this 2 x 2 group machines would be a better option.

What size of machine to buy?

This will really depend on what plans you have for selling coffee now and in the future. Some people only look at ‘now’ as opposed to the next few years as things change you may expand the business, sell more take away beverages etc.

As a general rule though a 1 Group machine is used in small commercial/business outlets that make around 50 cups a day were only a small amount of water for tea and chocolate is required. If you are providing more hot water I would recommend a Marco Aquarius 15 water boiler.

If you are making over 50 cups a day (or have busy periods) you would need a 2 Group Machine. This will also provide you with enough hot water for making tea and hot chocolate. You can also have two people using the machine at one time.

If you have an extremely busy operation (over 200 drinks a day) with a large requirement for hot water and chocolate you would need a 3 group Machine. This gives you fantastic flexibility and should meet every need you can throw at it!

Boiler capacity!

The larger the boiler capacity the more water you have! Sounds simple…….some cheaper machines have small boilers (some 2 groups only have 6 to 8 litres!). Avoid these like the plague, that’s one of the reasons they are cheap!!

We would recommend the following as the ideal boiler capacities:

• 1 Group – 6 litres
• 2 Group – 14 litres
• 3 Group – 20 Litres

Power

This part is as important as any other in our list. Ensure your machine has a 5KW element, as this will ensure a fast recovery time. This will mean a 20amp power supply. If you don’t have one its worth the investment getting one installed. Any machine with less than a 5KW element will leave you with a machine that wont be able to cope with your requirements therefore you could land up wasting money by having to purchase another machine?

Water Filter

Don’t install your machine without a water filter. You may think you can get away without a water filter but most water contains hardness, which leads to lime scale. This can cause major problems to the running of the machine and in a short period of time can land up costing you a lot of money in repairs. Unsure the filter is maintained and you follow the guidelines for replenishing or replacing the filter. This is generally on the size of the filter and the amount you use the machine.

If you need any further information or advice on purchasing your espresso machine please do not hesitate to contact us on 01295 710810 or sales@heartofenglandcoffee.co.uk